Physics Made Simple

by De Pree, Christopher G.

• ISBN13: 9780767917018
• ISBN10: 0767917014
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2005-01-11
• Publisher: Crown

Summary

Understand the rules that make the universe run. Understanding the laws of physics is essential for all scientific studies, but many students are intimidated by their complexities. This completely revised and updated book makes it easy to understand the most important principles. From the physics of the everyday world to the theory of relativity, PHYSICS MADE SIMPLE covers it all. Each chapter is introduced by anecdotes that directly apply the concepts to contemporary life and ends with practice problemswith complete solutionsto reinforce the concepts. Humorous illustrations and stories complete the text, making it not only easy but fun to learn this important science. Topics covered include: *force *motion *energy *waves *electricity and magnetism *the atom *quantum physics *relativity *spectroscopy *particle physics Look for these Made Simple titles Accounting Made Simple Arithmetic Made Simple Astronomy Made Simple Biology Made Simple Bookkeeping Made Simple Business Letters Made Simple Chemistry Made Simple English Made Simple Earth Science Made Simple French Made Simple German Made Simple Ingles Hecho Facil Investing Made Simple Italian Made Simple Keyboarding Made Simple Latin Made Simple Learning English Made Simple Mathematics Made Simple The Perfect Business Plan Made Simple Philosophy Made Simple Psychology Made Simple Sign Language Made Simple Spelling Made Simple Statistics Made Simple Your Small Business Made Simple www.broadwaybooks.com

Author Biography

<p><b>CHRISTOPHER G. DE PREE, PH.D., </b>is the coauthor of <i>The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Astronomy</i> and the <i>Concise Scientific Encyclopedia.</i> He teaches introductory and modern physics at Agnes Scott College in Decatur, Georgia.</p>

Table of Contents

Introduction	1	(2)
Physics: A Fundamental Science	3	(4)
Understanding Physics	3	(1)
Physics in Relation to the Other Sciences	4	(1)
Physics in Relation to Nonscientific Disciplines	5	(1)
Physics and Human Curiosity	5	(2)
Measurement and Estimation	7	(11)
Units of Measure	7	(1)
The mks System	8	(3)
Length	9	(1)
Mass	9	(2)
Time	11	(1)
Area, Volume, and Density	11	(3)
Area	11	(1)
Volume	12	(1)
Density	13	(1)
Scientific Notation	14	(2)
Multiplication and Division	15	(1)
Significant Figures	15	(1)
Order of Magnitude Calculations	16	(2)
Objects in Motion	18	(10)
Position, Velocity, and Acceleration	18	(7)
Position	18	(2)
Speed and Velocity	20	(2)
Acceleration	22	(2)
Free Fall: A Particular Acceleration	24	(1)
Motion in Two Dimensions	25	(3)
Force and Motion	28	(8)
What is Force?	28	(4)
More Than One Force	29	(1)
Forces in Equilibrium	30	(2)
Newton's Laws of Motion	32	(4)
Newton's First Law	32	(1)
Newton's Second Law	33	(1)
Newton's Third Law	34	(2)
Work, Energy, and Collisions	36	(6)
Work and Force	36	(2)
Potential Energy	37	(1)
Kinetic Energy	37	(1)
Ebb and Flow and the Conservation of Energy	38	(1)
Momentum and Collisions	39	(3)
Circular Motion and Gravity	42	(8)
Angular Motion	42	(1)
Angular Velocity	43	(1)
Angular Acceleration	44	(1)
Torque	45	(1)
Angular Momentum	45	(1)
Conservation of Angular Momentum	46	(1)
Forces in Circular Motion	46	(1)
Universal Gravitation	47	(3)
Solids and Liquids	50	(9)
Atoms, Molecules, Elements, and Compounds	50	(4)
The Structure of the Atom	51	(1)
Molecules	51	(1)
Types of Bonds	52	(1)
Elements, Compounds, and the Periodic Table	52	(2)
Solids	54	(1)
Density	54	(1)
Alloys	54	(1)
Liquids	54	(5)
Pressure	55	(1)
Buoyancy	55	(2)
Surface Tension	57	(2)
Heat, Temperature, and States of Matter	59	(12)
Temperature and Its Measurement	59	(2)
Celsius, Fahrenheit, and Kelvin	60	(1)
Heat and Specific Heat	61	(1)
Phase Changes, or Changes of State	62	(1)
The Behavior of Solids and Liquids	62	(2)
Coefficient of Linear Expansion	63	(1)
The Laws of Thermodynamics and Ideal Gases	64	(2)
Thermodynamics	64	(1)
Ideal Gases and Gas Laws	65	(1)
Conduction, Convection, and Radiation	66	(5)
Conduction	66	(1)
Convection	67	(1)
Thermal Radiation	68	(3)
Waves and Sound	71	(11)
The Anatomy of Waves	71	(3)
Wavelength, Amplitude, and Wave Speed	72	(1)
Transverse and Longitudinal Waves	73	(1)
Interference, Reflection, and Refraction	74	(1)
Standing Waves	75	(1)
Sound Waves	76	(3)
The Doppler Effect	78	(1)
Shock Waves	79	(1)
The Sound Intensity Scale	79	(3)
Light and Optics	82	(18)
What Is Light?	82	(2)
The Speed of Light	83	(1)
Light and Illumination	84	(3)
Sources of Light	84	(1)
The Intensity of Light	85	(2)
Rays of Light	87	(1)
Reflection and Refraction	88	(4)
Reflection	88	(1)
Types of Reflection	88	(1)
Refraction	89	(2)
Index of Refraction	91	(1)
Mirrors and Lenses	92	(4)
Mirrors	92	(1)
Lenses	93	(2)
Forming an Image	95	(1)
Optical Instruments	96	(4)
Cameras and the Human Eye	96	(2)
Microscopes and Telescopes	98	(2)
Color and the Wave Nature of Light	100	(9)
The Spectrum	100	(4)
Colors and Pigments	101	(1)
Pigments	102	(1)
Different Types of Spectra	102	(2)
Doppler Effect for Light	104	(1)
The Electromagnetic Spectrum	105	(1)
Interference and Color	105	(2)
Diffraction	107	(2)
Electric Charge and Potential	109	(8)
Static Electricity and Electric Current	109	(1)
Atoms and Electric Charge	110	(1)
Coulomb's Law	111	(1)
Conductors and Insulators	112	(1)
Charging by Friction, Contact, and Induction	112	(2)
The Electric Field	114	(1)
Electric Potential Energy and Potential Difference	115	(2)
Electric Current and Simple Circuits	117	(8)
Electromotive Force and Electric Current	117	(1)
Resistance and Ohm's Law	118	(1)
Electric Power	119	(4)
Series Circuits	120	(1)
Parallel Circuits	120	(3)
Fuses and Circuit Breakers	123	(1)
Capacitance	123	(2)
Magnetism and Induction	125	(12)
Magnets and How They Work	125	(2)
Magnetic Field	127	(1)
Earth's Magnetic Field	127	(1)
Electricity and Magnetism	128	(1)
Electromagnets	129	(2)
Forces Operating on an Electric Current	130	(1)
Measuring Current and Voltage	131	(1)
Electric Motors	131	(3)
Electromagnetic Induction	132	(1)
Electric Generators	133	(1)
Transformers	134	(3)
The Atom and Quantum Mechanics	137	(8)
The Quantum and the Nature of Light	137	(2)
The Structure of the Atom	139	(3)
The Bohr Model of the Atom	140	(1)
Quantized Energy Levels	141	(1)
Particles as Waves	142	(1)
Schrodinger and Quantum Mechanics	142	(3)
Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle	143	(2)
Relativity	145	(8)
Special Relativity	146	(3)
Time Dilation	147	(1)
The Twin Paradox	148	(1)
Length Contraction	148	(1)
Relativistic Motion and Energy	149	(1)
The Most Famous Equation	150	(1)
General Relativity: A New Theory of Gravity	150	(3)
Nuclear Physics, Particles, and the Cosmos	153	(9)
The Atomic Nucleus	153	(2)
Isotopes	154	(1)
Forces, Fission, and Fusion	155	(2)
Strong Nuclear Force	155	(1)
Weak Nuclear Force	156	(1)
Nuclear Fusion in the Sun	156	(1)
Elementary Particles and Forces: A Summary	157	(1)
The Big Bang	158	(4)
Appendix A. Formulas and Relations	162	(3)
Appendix B. Motion in Two Dimensions	165	(2)
Appendix C. Solutions to Problems	167	(6)
Glossary	173	(6)
Index	179